A One-Year Experiment Is Enough

As I'm sure you've noticed if you checked the site following basketball season, things have slowed down here at the Society.  In the last few months, I would have liked to find the time to write a post defending Dom Starsia, a good man who in many corners was thrown under the bus for running what was deemed an out-of control program following the tragic death of Yeardley Love. As far as I think the Washington Post came with Zach Berman trying to revive its Virginia coverage, their piece on Starsia following Love's death was nothing short of a one-sided, ignorant hatchet job. I also would have liked to chime in on Mike London's efforts to revive the program -- his outreach to the 757 and the energy he's brought to Charlottesville. Believe me, he's a LONG way away from rebuilding this thing, but the first several months of his tenure have confirmed my belief that the University has the right man for the job.

Simply put, we here at the Society just haven't had enough time to make this site what we wanted when we launched almost to the day last year.  As cjhoo noted, my wife & I welcomed the newest member of Hoo nation in January, and I also switched jobs to a position that will be taking up a lot more of what little was left of my free time.  My colleague cjhoo and his wife are also expecting their first in October, right around the time Mike London might be wondering what he's gotten himself into. So while it was a blast to do for a year, and we'd like to keep it up, its just not realistic at this point.  This will therefore be the last post here at the Society. 

I hope, as had been my goal, that we intelligently added to the discussion.  We tried to thread the needle between the Fourth Estate, the core of which when it comes to UVA sports has been around a LONG time (in some cases too long), and mindless fandom, which far too often litters the internet these days.  But doing a blog on the side did remind me how hard it is to follow a beat full-time, and gave me even more respect for those bloggers who consistently churn out quality content even though they do so in many cases as a second job for little (if any) monetary benefit.  I still think there's a niche out there that's yet to be filled.  When it is, I can promise I will be among that site's most loyal readers.

Shout-out to cjhoo, who carried the water for the site after the birth of my son and really found his groove writing about hoops in the winter.  Shout out to my former colleague and the Sabre's Kris Wright, who was always generous with a link and kind words for the site.  Non-shout out to acccoy, who I asked only to commit if he could contribute but very infrequently did.  We're still waiting on that ACC hoops piece, acccoy (sorry man, couldn't resist).  Shout out to Japers Rink, a Washington Capitals blog that inspired me to start this one. I know there are probably only a handful of hockey fans who followed the Society, but J.P. (thanks for the words of encouragement) and his troupe churn out content of a quality I could only have hoped to do for UVA sports.  Shout out to all those bloggers out there still doing yeoman's work.  I still think each of the other sites out there have a ways to go, but I'll be watching for one to break through.  Good luck boys.  And a final shoutout to our readers.  I appreciate the comments, words of encouragement, and most importanly, visits to the site, each one of which provided just a touch of validation to what we were doing.  I especially appreciated all the traffic around the football coaching search, when I thought we did some of our best work.  Thanks for noticing, and coming by to see what we were writing about.

I'll be leaving the blogspot version of the site up for a while.  Who knows, maybe cjhoo and I will get bored again with our day jobs, recruit some more writers, and make another run at this thing.  Until then, GO HOOS!  Continue reading this post...

Happy Birthday

Today marks Thomas Jefferson's 267th birthday. Happy Birthday Mr. Jefferson from all of us at the Society! Continue reading this post...

As Expected

Virginia officially announced Sylvan Landesburg will not be returning to Virginia. In fact, the sophomore from Flushing, NY will not even finish the semester. Landesburg plans to "pursue his professional aspirations." It's a case that seems eerily similar to that of the Hoo formerly known as Roger Mason Jr (now just Roger Mason). Some projections have Landesburg going late in the second round of the NBA draft while others have him going undrafted. Mason also made the jump early and ended up going in the first-half of the second round. He toiled for years as a journeyman in the NBA, but to his credit, he stuck with it and had a breakout year last season for the Spurs. Former Virginia star Sean Singletary was also drafted in the second round (42nd pick by the Sacramento Kings) and in October of 2009, he was waived by the 76ers. He currently plays in Spain. So, based on some recent history, Landesburg definitely has his work cut out for him - then again, knocking down 500k a year in Europe isn't necessarily chump change nor the worst thing in the world.

More to come... Continue reading this post...

Missfit

No, Tristan Spurlock was far from a misfit - it simply appears UVa was not a good fit for him. In other words, a miss-fit. By all accounts, his decision to leave is solely due to basketball and where he fits in moving forward. Hoo fans have speculated the move for months, and, quite frankly, it comes as no big surprise. As a top-100 rated recruit and a player expected to come in and get immediate playing time, the fact he played very little this past season made it a natural for fans to speculate his departure. Despite the constant talk about his future, Spurlock contends he finalized his decision last night, and it stemmed from the fact Coach Bennett saw him as power forward while he envisioned himself as a wing player.

Spurlock came to Virginia after having a couple of contentious relationships with previous coaches, but in this case, the freshman out of Word of Life Christian Academy has proven a model citizen. He continues to say all of the right things; singing the praises of UVa, and the fans (not too often anyone compliments Virginia fans) as well as showing unwavering respect for Bennett. Spurlock has shown a great deal of class throughout the entire ordeal (unlike senior Calvin Baker, he never griped about playing time), and he has handled the transfer with a sense of maturity far beyond that of most freshman. It's hard for Hoo fans not to like him.

Some people will likely wonder why Bennett fought so hard to keep him committed to the Cavs if he wasn't a good fit for his system. First and foremost, that assumes Bennett knew right away that Spurlock was not a player well suited for his system, and there is no indication of that being the case. Even more importantly, keeping Spurlock was a necessary PR move for the new coach - it was an early win that showed he could come in, pick up the pieces, and start the program moving forward. Losing Spurlock would have signaled that the wheels had fallen off and that Bennett was working with a program stripped down to its foundation. Ultimately, Bennett has reworked the program - breaking it down to the foundation in order to install his system and philosophies with the intent to build it back up from there. Yet at the time, keeping Spurlock was a key pickup for Bennett and helped maintain the positive outlook that came with his arrival.

Many UVa fans will be disappointed not to have had the chance to see what could of become of Spurlock - it was an intriguing story to say the least. It will certainly come as no shock to see Spurlock do well somewhere else, and given the fact he is leaving on good terms, most Virginia fans will likely be rooting for him. We here at the Society wish him all the best.

Continue reading this post...

Hard to reasonably expect much more

Realistically speaking, it was hard to expect much more. Today's game against Duke caused headlines to use such adjectives as "pesky" or describe Duke as "holding off" the Hoos. The last time these two met, it was a blowout and Virginia had no chance from the start. UVa kept it close for 3/4 of the game until a late run helped the Dookies notch a 57-46 win over the Cavs.

Another hard-fought, well-balanced effort from Virginia, though sadly, after two solid efforts, Sammy Zeglinski was noticeably absent. Zeglinski scored a team high 21 points yesterday in the win over BC, yet failed to get on the board against Duke. Imagine how 9 points from him (his season average) would have changed the game.

As we said before, in light of the 9 game losing streak, the best "realistic" ending to the season was two competitive losses against the league's top-two teams and a win over Boston College. Given the circumstances, we'll take it. Virginia ends the season with a shred of dignity in tact and a small glimmer of hope that better days are ahead. So crank up the rumor mill and let the guessing games begin - the Hoos' offseason soap opera now takes center stage.
Continue reading this post...

Well Deserved

For Virginia fans, it probably feels good to smile - even if it is only a slight grin. At the very least, you can't help but feel happy for these guys who, in the face of adversity, continued to play hard and battle. It's only fitting that Virginia got off the snide with a well-balanced effort. As a team, the Hoos refused to roll over (even when it would have been easy and understandable to do so), and it was a team effort that lead to Virginia's 68-62 win over Boston College in the opening round of the ACC tourney. Five guys scored in double figures lead by a very strong outing from Sammy Zeglinski. He finished with a team-high 21 points while Jeff Jones pitched in 14 (going 3-5 from beyond the arc). Jerome Meyinsse continued his strong play and put up 12 points. After a slow start made it look as if Mike Scott was still stuck in his funk, the junior forward played very well in the second half and finished the game with a double-double. Mustapha Farrakhan added 10 points, including a strong layup and one down the stretch.

Without Sylven Landesburg, guys like Farrakhan, Jones, and Zeglinski needed to step up offensively and all three answered the call. The new-look offense also affords these guys the opportunity to get more involved offensively, and without Landesburg in the last two games, Jones has especially blossomed. The disparity in pure talent and scoring ability between Landesburg and the rest of the crew likely makes it difficult for the supporting cast to find a good, comfortable role that allows them to be consistent contributors. Now the players are far more balanced and even which makes it easier for them to be more comfortable on the court and to simply play. To be honest, this particular team might be as good or even better without him. Bennett's system calls for a balanced, deliberate, and well-executed approach on both offense and defense - it's vital that everyone gets involved on both ends of the floor. It's a a style of play that actually helps teams with less pure talent stay competitive with just about anyone - as long as everyone gets involved and executes their assignments, the team has a chance. Of course, getting involved offensively generally leads to more energy and passion defensively. With one player serving as such a focal point offensively, it makes it far more easy for guys to struggle finding a rhythm and to simply check out - that leads to breakdowns. Without Landesburg (at least in the last two games) it appears everyone looks more comfortable and can get more involved which enables the group to gel more and play more cohesively.

Yesterday, the Hoos committed a season-low five turnovers, and unlike their recent trip to Chestnut Hill, Virginia rebounded extremely well and kept BC from getting a ton of second-chance points. Today UVa faces number-one seed Duke - a tall task indeed though not impossible (see: Big East Tournament). In order for Virgina to pull off the major upset, another well-rounded effort is absolutely in order. Protecting the ball and owning the defensive boards will once again prove vital. On top of having 4-5 guys in double figures, the Hoos will likely also need someone like Will Sherrill or even Tristan Spurlock, what a made-for-tv story that would be, to go Kyle Kuric (see: Louisville over Syracuse to close down Freedom Hall) on the Dookies.

Regardless of today's outcome, the Hoos notched a much-needed win over BC in order to avert complete disaster. For the players and the fans, it feels good to win again. Yesterday featured a few first-round surprises, and with few expectations and virtually no pressure, Hoo knows, Virginia might just make it interesting. From the Society's perspective, a win yesterday is really all we asked for, so at this point, we're playing with house money...as long the team goes all in, we'll either leave fairly satisfied or stay to play another hand.
Continue reading this post...

Pick a reason, any reason, just play for something

Certainly the last thing Virginia wants to do is close out the season on a 10-game losing streak. UVa's current nine-game skid serves as the worst since the 1961-62 squad. Furthermore, a loss today at noon against Boston College would forever join the Hoos with the 1981 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets as the only other ACC school to finish a season with 10 straight losses. Not good. Despite the fact Virginia's season is effectively over, these are the types of things every teams wants to avoid and this is not how these kids want to get in the record books. This is not how they want to be remembered. Quite frankly, Virginia fans also don't want the Hoos' complete collapse to be the lasting memory that carries them through the offseason. For what it's worth, a win today will serve as reason enough to no longer use "complete" when describing UVa's late-season collapse. Small and largely insignificant to be sure, but we're feeding on crumbs here.

No question Virginia's chances today are rather slim. First off, the ACC tourney is an event that has not treated the Hoos all that kindly in recent years (especially in the Gillen era). Furthermore, BC waxed UVa earlier in the season and, in fact, mercifully ended the Cavs season last year in, you guessed it, the first round of the ACC tourney. Sylven Landesburg is gone, and Calvin Baker has left the team, so to say the Hoos are undermanned is a huge understatement.

Heck, for all intents and purposes, the season is over. Tristan Spurlock is already (at least publicly) stating his desire to return. Coach Tony Bennett is already making sure the press and fans know Landesburg is welcome to return and that the suspension only applies to this season. This team has already begun to look ahead to next year, so in some respects, it could be argued even they have cashed it in for the year. From a fan's perspective, this year is definitely done. The "As the worlds of Spurlock and Landesburg turn" soap opera is about the only shred of entertainment value this squad provides. The only true excitement surrounding the program stems from the hopes and dreams pinned to one of the more highly-regarding incoming freshman classes to arrive on Grounds in years. The fan focus is on the future and not the present.

Ultimately a win or loss won't really mean much of anything. The program won't be damaged beyond repair, and a dark cloud won't hang so heavy that it ruins next season as well. Yet, maybe that's just it. Nobody gives Virginia a chance today, and to be honest, outside of the die hard wahoo fans, nobody really cares. All the story lines point to next season and many are ready to get on with it already. Despite all that, the game must be played, and a Virginia win would help - even if only slightly. Sure, it sounds trite, but it's the truth - today the Hoos are playing for pride. When all the chips are down, does this squad have the character to find a way to win. Is coach Bennett building a program that fights against all odds? Can the Cavs head into the offseason having stopped the bleeding? A loss today and Virgina's season will be tattooed with "10 consecutive losses" and will be primarily remembered for the dubious feat. A win today coupled with a competitive outing against Duke changes things - the story now shifts to the fact UVa finished on a bit of an upswing and showed some signs of life. A win and two hard-fought losses against the league's top two teams.

A gut check, playing for pride, backs against the wall, fighting to the end....pick whatever cliche you want, Virginia just needs to play for something. A win and a small glimmer of hope - well that's something, and something is better than nothing.


Continue reading this post...

A Golf Clap and a Groan

For the first time in several games, the Hoos gave an effort worthy of at least a golf clap. Yes, in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, Virginia fans are in the business of looking for moral victories. Saturday's hard-fought 74-68 loss to ACC regular season co-champion Maryland qualifies. Keep in mind, Sylven Landesburg missed the game after being suspended for the remainder of the season. In addition, Mike Scott played only 15 minutes and tallied just two points. So, with that type of storyline, conventional wisdom suggests the game should have been a blow out. However, the short-handed Hoos competed, played hard, and even when facing a 14-point deficit, failed to fold. The Cavs posted a gutsy performance and a handful of unlikely heroes stepped up and played well

• Jerome Meyinsse posted a near-perfect senior night and capped off what has been a very nice season from the senior center. It could easily be argued Meyinnse is the only player on this year's squad who has exceeded expectations. Sammy Zeglinski has certainly shown progress but has faded as of late. On the other hand, Meyinsse has continued to improve throughout the season - hitting his stride down the stretch. He went out in style on Saturday and led UVa in scoring with 17 points. Even with the loss, if nothing else, you have to at least feel good for a guy who has worked hard both on the court and in the classroom.
  
• Speaking Zeglinski, he and Jeff Jones finally showed up. Zeglinski shot 50% from beyond the arc and tallied 14 points while Jones was a blistering 4-6 from downtown en route to a 16-point outing. Mutsapha Farrakhan chipped in 8 points and Will Sherrill added a solid contribution off the bench with 9 points. Interesting to see all of these guys step up with Mike Scott having an off night and Landesburg out for the year. Wonder how much their inconsistency is due to having Landesburg carrying so much of the focus offensively? Michael Jordan succeeded only when the Bulls surrounded him with guys who could contribute and knew their role within the system. It's clear these guys have yet to truly figure out how they fit in (night after night) to an offense that runs through Landesburg nor has the group been able to develop any sort of consistent chemistry.
• Coach Tony Bennett picked a fine time to garner his first career technical foul. With just over 38 seconds remaining and UVa down by one, Bennett slammed his jacket on the floor in protest of a tough blocking call. Replays showed Meyinsse did lean/slide slightly to the right as Maryland's Sean Mosley barreled into him. However, with time winding down on the shot clock, Mosley lowered his head and went to the hoop with little regard for anyone or anything in his way - a player control foul certainly was not out of the question. No doubt it was a tough call (especially after Gary Williams had just finished getting in the ear of the officials regarding a previous charge called on star Greivis Vasquez) though Bennett's technical proved a back-breaker.
  
• Speaking of Greivis Vasquez, did anyone else notice his first name appears to be a combination of his father's name Gregorio and his mother's name, Ivis? Hoo knew.
• So, an already bizarre season just got a little weirder Saturday morning with the announcement of Landesburg's season-ending suspension. Early reports are that Landesburg wasn't going to class which only further adds fuel to the "leaving for the pros" fire. Skipping class seems to fit the M.O. of a guy who has checked out and started looking ahead to next season - why go to class when you won't be there next year? What's the point? Regardless of what might eventually happen, the one thing that is clear right now is Bennett's commitment to doing things according to the established rules. It is obvious Bennett is establishing a new culture, and in light of the various suspensions throughout the year, it appears he runs a tighter ship than his predecessor.
  
• Props to the announced crowd of 13,431 who showed up to catch the Hoos' last home game of the season. Virginia fans have certainly earned a reputation for being a bit fair-weathered (a fair assessment in some cases) though Saturday's showing was extremely strong in light of the circumstances (an eight-game losing streak to be exact). Juxtapose that against the game two days earlier in Chestnut Hill when less than 4,000 people showed up to catch Boston College host the Cavs. The two teams have extremely similar records and both are struggling, yet Virginia's fan support proves miles ahead. Maybe UVa fans are looking beyond this season and buying into Bennett's efforts to rebuild the program for long-term success.
  

On the court, this season has been underwhelming to say the least, yet the one thing that has not been lacking is drama. Various story lines have run throughout, and it's scary to think what might happen next. Remember to keep your hands inside the ride at all times because the roller coaster that is Virginia basketball is not ready to return to the station and shut down for the year.
Continue reading this post...

Wishful Thinking

Yesterday's argument was that a win against Boston College could help provide a shred of hope, and from a statistical standpoint (especially in conference), a victory over the Eagles would help tell the story of progress. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and that includes changing perspective in order to find or even manufacture a silver lining. Unfortunately, the lowered expectations and new focus were not met with different results. Last night the Hoos dropped their eighth straight contest - a 68-55 loss to BC. Once again the Hoos fell behind early and never recovered - talking about this squad is really starting to sound like a broken record. It's the same stuff night in and night out.

• Welcome back Mike Scott. After getting blanked the last two games, Scott finally showed up and nearly posted a double double. Sylven Landesburg also returned to action and notched 13 points as well. Jerome Meyinsse, as he has done all season, played beyond expectations and chipped in 12 points. So, those three accounted for 70% of Virginia's 55 total points. That's not enough offensive distribution to be competitive. Sammy Zeglinksi missed every shot he took, ended the night with a goose egg and has all but disappeared. Same goes for Jeff Jones. Mustapha Farrakhan notched 8 points, and normally that would be a respectable contribution, but when nobody else shows up, it's far too little.
• Houston, we have a problem. Losing eight straight is no small feat and there is no doubt something has gone terribly wrong with this squad. Blame it on lack of overall talent, chemistry problems, fatigue, transition to a new system, or whatever else you want to identify, but regardless of the causes, it's getting ridiculous. The wheels have fallen off and now the Cavs can't even manage to dig deep and find enough pride to be competitive against (let alone beat) another ACC bottom feeder.
• Chalk this season up as a loss in the name of change - at least, that's what Hoos fans hope to be saying 2-3 years from now if and when the program has once again become competitive. At this point, Virginia is staring at the real possibility of finishing the season on a 10-game losing streak, which will make it difficult to discern much of anything from this season. Finding true signs of lasting progress, wholesale change, or the building of a foundation for success still remains a big question mark.
• This summer is shaping up to be just as full of intrigue as last summer. Questions abound regarding freshman Tristan Spurlock, and the recent commitment from Billy Baron only adds fuel to the fire. Six commits with only five available scholarships means something has got to give - will Spurlock transfer, is Landesburg bolting for the NBA, or are all of the recent lineup changes not our of sheer desperation, but instead, Bennett's way of having everyone tryout/audition for their scholarship. Hoo knows, but at this point, it appears there are just as many questions after Bennett's first year as there were last summer when he was entering his first year in C'ville. Ideally things should start (even if in only small ways) to be coming together instead of becoming more unsettled.....again, maybe you have to deconstruct this thing and build it back up in order to accomplish real change.
  

Oh the life of a Virginia hoops fan......are we having fun yet? Continue reading this post...

A meaningless game with meaning?

An oxymoron? Yes. A must-win game? Probably not. A chance to halt the skid and show one more sign of progress? Absolutely. The idea that how Virginia finishes the season will carryover to next year is probably a bit much. To think that the Hoos will carry any momentum into next year from mini-winning streak to end this year seems unlikely - does anyone ever really look back at the last couple of games of any given season as a source of inspiration? However, if the Cavs end up losing out - finishing the season on a dreadful 10-game slide - that would likely leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth and set the tone for a long offseason. While UVa's season is likely all but over (barring a surprise run and invite to the NIT), tonight's contest against Boston College does present an opportunity to help solidify that things are moving in the right direction.

Coach Bennett has cautioned that rebuilding Virginia's basketball program is a work in progress - a task that will take some time. The optimists here at the Society were hoping he was sandbagging, but, sadly, he wasn't. The reality is Hoos fans should be looking for signs of progress and any expectations beyond that are likely too much. To be fair, early success in conference play got most fans a bit distracted and the focus shifted to pipedreams of postseason play and challenging for a spot in the top-half of the ACC. Bennett did his best to temper expectations, but Hoo nation is starved for success, and a brief stint as the league leader was like tossing a bucket full of chum in shark-infested waters.

The recent slide has put things back in perspective, and tonight's game against BC presents a chance for Bennett and his squad to display another example of how they are slowly but surely building a foundation for success. A win against the Eagles would, first and foremost, put a halt to a very dejecting losing streak - no one likes to lose regardless of the expectations. Furthermore, a victory tonight would serve as UVa's sixth conference win of the season which would be more than either of the previous two seasons. A win tonight would also represent the Hoos' third conference road win of the year - a feat last accomplished in 2006-07 when Virginia advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

So no, the trip to Chestnut Hill will not impact the ACC conference championship nor will it have any bearing on NCAA seedings. However, it does have meaning to Virginia fans and to a Virginia basketball program looking to rebuild and return to its former status as a regular NCAA tourney team. It could serve as a sign of progress, a step in the right direction, and another brick in the foundation. Small wins and moral victories, that's what Hoo fans can reasonably expect, and a win tonight fits that description. Continue reading this post...

No upset alert

Not even close. Without Sylven Landesburg, Virginia didn't stand a chance. Kyle Singler, John Scheyer and the rest of the Dookies got the memo. It appears the Hoos also read the writing on the wall and bought into their own demise before the game even started. Duke immediately opened the game with a 20-4 run and never looked back. Both teams knew the storyline and played their roles accordingly. The weekend produced a handful of upsets in college basketball, but sadly, this one went exactly as scripted. Not a whole lot to say about this one, but here are few random musings following the debacle.

• Entering the season, the Society thought the cupboard might not be all that bare and that Tony Bennett had inherited more talent than the 4th estate realized (given they predicted the Hoos to finish last). Landesburg's absence last night presented a good opportunity for some others to step up and prove their mettle. Jerome Meyinsse came to play and posted a career high 21 points. Yet, you know it's likely not a good sign when a guy who has seen very little action prior to this year scores nearly 50% of the team's points for the game. No one else could muster double figures. For the second game in a row, Mike Scott was shut out. Bottom line, the cupboard is bare, and this Virginia squad is remarkably devoid of ACC-caliber talent. Guys like Sammy Zeglinski, Mustapha Farakhan and Jeff Jones all show flashes which leads fans to think these guys could blossom into solid scorers and make Virginia a dangerous team. Zeglinski has done the best of the three, showed some nice improvement to start the season, but has seemingly disappeared down the stretch - only a sophomore, there's still time. Farakhan will likely finish out his career as a streaky hot and cold player while, by all accounts, Jones looks destine to be an overall bust. Mike Scott continues to improve year-over-year (statistically) but still seems to be continuing a pattern of fading towards the end of the season. Meyinsse has been a very nice surprise this season - had Cav fans been saying similar things about Zeglinski, Farakhan, and Jones, this season might have turned out a little differently.

• Recently, Doug Doughty of the Roanoke Times suggested he was "not going to let first-year head coach Tony Bennett off the hook" in terms of his role in Virginia's recent skid. Hey, the Hoos have lost seven straight, so certainly everyone involved in the program deserves some portion of the blame. Doughty notes the team has regressed - fair assessment - and that a coaching getting 1.7M a year should get the most out of his players. The latter view appears to be a slippery slope....Mike Scott has failed to make a basket in the past two games. Last time I checked, the coaches don't play the game (though the Hoos would likely get a big boost offensively if Bennett suited up - he looks like he can still knock it down). Can coaches get players to make shots? Last night marked the third time Virginia has failed to crack 50 points in a game - the last time that happened was 25 years ago. Again, it's sort of a chicken or the egg - some will blame coaching, and some will blame talent. What is more tangible is recruiting (many argue it's all about the Jimmies and Joes not the X's and O's), and even when faced with a shortened recruiting cycle, Bennett put together a class that exceeds anything assembled by Leitao. That combined with the fact UVa could still likely finish the season better than most expected gives the impression that coaching might not be the biggest issue.

• With all that said, Virginia does need to find a way to stop the bleeding. The Hoos made strides to start conference play, yet the recent slide has nearly wiped out the earlier accomplishments. Finishing the year on a 10-game skid (dropping the next two and bowing out in the first round of the ACC) would make for an extremely long offseason. If the Hoos can show some life and muster a couple of wins to end the season on a positive note, it would go a long way in providing the slight glimmer of hope Virginia fans so desperately need. For those lukewarm on Bennett, a couple of wins could help prove the coach can find a way to reverse the fortunes when the chips are down. For those convinced the squad is too undermanned, ending the season on a winning streak would show the team's got a little pride left. Either way, for the most part, we all want to believe, and we had reason, but now it appears to be slipping away. Just give us something to hold on to - any signs of life will do.

Continue reading this post...

Free Fall

The Hoos are running on empty and a service station is nowhere in sight. From a physical standpoint, five games in eleven days has proven too much for a team that is, by the coach's own admission, thin and undermanned. From a mental standpoint, an overtime home loss to Wake combined with tough loss to arch-rival Va Tech in Bleaksburg appears to have broken (or at least severally damaged) the team's spirit. Last night, Virginia dropped it's sixth consecutive contest with a 74-62 road loss to Miami. It was their fourth consecutive double-digit setback, and sadly, the storyline for this one was no different than the previous three. It's as if the Hoos are stuck on repeat. Everyone knows Virginia's problems but it appears the squad is unwilling or unable to find the solution - likely a combination of the two with a hefty portion of the problem stemming from a lack of talent and ability. It's reminiscent of the morning after Foxfields when you're too damn hungover to turn off the stereo that has been playing the same Slackjaw song over and over again all night long. The night before you were too drunk to care, and by morning, you're too sick to move or too mentally drained to notice.

Not long ago, the talk was about finding a consistent third scorer. During Virginia's seven-game winning streak, Sylven Landesburg and Mike Scott were putting up consistent numbers and either Mustapha Farrakhan, Jeff Jones, or (mostly) Sammy Zeglinski were taking turns filling the third -scorer role. Now, the Hoos are simply looking for anyone other than Landesburg to score. Against Miami, Scott failed to score a point and Zeglinski managed only five. Meyinsse posted a solid 13 and Jones pitched in 11, but outside of Zeglinski, no one else managed more than two measly points. That won't cut it. According to Landesburg, it's as if the Cavs have simply forgotten how to win.

Recently this year's squad has started to resemble the Leitao-led Hoos of last season. Over the past several games, Coach Bennett has toyed with various lineups and followed inconsistent substitution patterns. Last night, Farrakhan logged a DNP for the first time this season and Jontel Evans saw little time. Scott was woefully ineffective and sat much of the second half while seldom-used Solomon Tat saw some action. Possibly a bit of desperation or maybe Bennett's way of trying to find a spark...something to jump-start his otherwise lethargic team. While the rotation moves prove interesting but somewhat understandable, the way in which Virginia has played recently is far too similar to last season. Down the stretch the Hoos have become porous on defense and the offense has become non-existent. Once again, teams are keying on Landesburg and no one is stepping up offensively to relieve the pressure. Landesburg posted only four points in a home loss to FSU and too few players stepped up to fill the void. Even though he went off last night, he got too little help from others. This squad simply lacks the offensive talent to compete in the ACC, and that's pretty evident when the Hoos start looking for more production from walk-on Will Sherrill. Take nothing away from Sherrill - he's a great story and does a lot of the intangibles that are so necessary for success. Every team needs a guy like Sherrill to provide that spark and do the dirty work, but when you are relying on him to produce offensively, it speaks volumes about the team's overall talent level.

For optimistic Virginia fans (are there any), where is the silver lining in all of this. Well, if you look hard enough, you can see one - or the potential for one. While it looks bleak, if the Hoos can win two of their last three (not impossible), that would give the Cavs a 7-9 ACC record and probably put them somewhere in the middle of the conference standings. Not bad for a team predicted to finish last. Furthermore, seven conference wins are nearly as many as the nine total ACC wins Leitao's squads collected over the previous two seasons. Going from 8 games below five hundred to a winning record and possible post-season play (NIT) is a nice turnaround from last season and likely more than anyone should have expected from this year's team. Things looked grim before the Hoos rattled off seven straight earlier this season, so it will be interesting to see if Bennett and the boys can regroup and find a way to end the season on an up-swing. It's not too late to salvage a respectable season, but in order to do so, Virginia will need to figure this thing out soon....somebody just has to get up off the couch and hit the stop button so we don't hear AFH for the 100th straight time.


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Bennett-Ball, With Better Players

Looking back on the game, its hard to see how Virginia could have played the system any better.  They only turned the ball over only nine times against a very tough Wake Forest defense.  They fought inside against an opponent with superior size and strength inside.  Jontel Evans ran himself ragged trying to keep Ish Smith out of the lane.  But in the end, the Deamon Deacons, playing a similar style to Bennett-Ball, was just too big, too strong, too good for the Hoos.

A few observations from the Hoos' second OT loss at home:

• He struggled at times, but Sylven Landesberg was the best player on the court when he had to be, and single-handedly kept Virginia in the game late.  With no one else scoring in the second half, Landesberg's tireless drives, runners, and clutch free throws were impressive, even in a losing effort.
• Evans made some key stops on Ishmael Smith in the second half as Virginia pulled even late, but looked gassed on the penultimate possession when Smith beat him left and got to the basket for a layup.  He also seemed to have nothing left for the extra session.  Don't worry, Jontel, the kid you were trying to stop is a senior.  In three years, you're going to be him, maybe better.
• The Hoos fought on the glass, even getting some key minutes off the bench from the oft-forgotten Assane Sene, but Wake was just too big and too good on the offensive glass, an area Virginia has limited this season despite generally playing a smaller lineup.  Aided by Smith's penetrating drives to the basket that broke down the Virginia defense, Aminu, McFarland, Williams, and Woods were relentless finishing around the basket and on the offensive glass. 
• Mike Scott was good in the first half, utterly frustrated in the second.  He's been a key second option for the Hoos, but Wake's bigger defenders made life miserable for him down the stretch.  
• The Deacs also did a nice job closing out on shooters, holding Virginia to 5-19 from three.  Sammy Zieglinski in particular struggled to get good looks while played by bigger defenders (while his more logical defender, Ish Smith, was used on Landesberg to try to keep him out of the lane).  Get used to it Sammy.  As a non-threat to get to the basket, you're going to start seeing face up defense by bigger players the rest of the way.
• Virginia's last possession left a bit to be desired, but was more the result of a tired and frustrated team.  Landesberg's contested three was followed by a horrific hoist by Will Sherill, who looked like he was trying to be a hero instead of finding a better shooter with a few ticks left on the clock.  But I'm not going to pick on Sherill too much.  He played tough and smart despite being physically outmatched.  And the fact that anyone's nitpicking on Sherill tells you how far he's come as a ball player.

Finally, a shout-out to the 11,972 that braved the reported 30 or so inches of snow in the Charlottesville area.  Virginia sent out an e-mail a while back soliciting opinions how to fill the building like it had been in its inaugual season.  Not surprisingly, the crowds have returned in lockstep with winning basketball.  Still, Craig Littlepage was right to thank the crowd for coming out.  The fact that Virginia had any homecourt advantage (which UNC notably did not have just a week ago under less dire weather conditions) speaks volumes about the health of the program, even on a day in which the program showed how far it still has to go to match the talent-level of a team it hopes to look a little more like in the near future.     Continue reading this post...

A Fine Line

Two weeks ago, with Virginia standing a surprising 3-0 in the ACC, the Hoos welcomed in 6-12 UNC-Wilmington.  It was a game that a front-running ACC team should have handled easily at home, but the Cavaliers needed a late Sylven Landesberg jumper to eke out a two-point win.  After the game, Tony Bennett cautioned that his team, while improved, would continue to walk "a fine line" between winning and losing. 

That fine line reared its head last night against N.C. State, a team Virginia handled on the road just three weeks ago and standing at a lowly 2-5 in the ACC.  But with Landesberg struggling to find his shot, and having trouble slowing the Pack's inside tandem of Tracy Smith and Richard Howell, Virginia simply wasn't good enough to cruise at home, even against an inferior opponent.

Thankfully, the Hoos remembered the line they have to walk in time to win the game.  The inside lanes that were open in the first half closed down in the second.  Virginia reasserted control of the glass.  And the Wolfpack, who had shot 46% in the first half, could no longer crack the code.  Keyed by a six-plus minute run midway thru the second half in which the Hoos held N.C. State scoreless, Virginia pulled away and (almost unbelievably) into a tie atop the ACC.

It wasn't pretty (except for Mustapha Farrakhan's right-handed, and-1 dunk, which was pretty sweet), but Bennett-Ball usually isn't.  Still, after surrendering 28 in the first half, Virginia gave up only 19 in the second.  It doesn't matter how much your leading scorer scores (Landesberg only had 7 on 2-10 shooting) if you hold your opponent to 47 points.

So despite having to walk that fine line, Tony Bennett's charges have ascended to a share of the lead in the conference.  If they keep that line in mind, there's no limit to how well they can do in a down ACC.  Continue reading this post...

Bouncing Back in a Big Way

No one saw that one coming. Definitely not anyone wearing a UNC uniform. A 15-point win in Chapel Hill goes a long way in helping rid the painful memories of Thursday's loss to Va Tech. Where the Hoos failed to finish against the Hokies, UVa always had an answer last night against North Carolina. Everyone knew, or at least felt, the Tarheels would make a run in the second half, yet the Cavs kept them at arms-length (and then some) after they built a big lead early in the second half. Sylven Landesburg played lights out, and Sammy Zeglinski shot extremely well from beyond the arc. Jerome Meyinsse posted another solid outing and played a big role in keeping UNC bigs Ed Davis and Deon Thompson in check. He and Mike Scott hounded the tandem all night long making it difficult for either of them to find any type of rhythm on offense. UVa's front court either blocked or altered their shots on numerous occasions and held Davis and Thompson to a combined 11 points on the evening.

Against Va Tech, Virginia struggled to hit big shots when the Cavs needed points the most, yet last night was a completely different story. UVa responded every time it looked as if UNC might mount a run and knocked down several key baskets to maintain control of the game. As Jeff White notes, Virginia's performance at Chapel Hill was impressive especially given what happened last Thursday night against the Hokies.

Speaking of winning at the Dean Dome, last night marked only the third time Virginia has ever won at the Smith Center and it was Virginia's first victory in the last six tries against the Tar Heels. For many UVa players, this marks one of the biggest victories of their college careers.

A surprising 4-2 in ACC play, tied for second in the league standings, has Virginia coach Tony Bennett starting to garner some attention for ACC Coach of the Year honors.

There's no question the Hoos caught UNC on an off shooting night, and even Bennett acknowledged as much in both his halftime and post-game tv interviews. Certainly some of that was due to UVa's defense (especially inside where seemingly almost every shot was contested) and some was due to the Tarheels having a tough outing. Couple that with a very strong offensive performance from the Cavs and it effectively created a near-perfect storm. Regardless, a win in Chapel Hill against the Tar Heels is huge and to finish the game so emphatically after blowing a 10-point lead against Va Tech makes the win that much more impressive. Without a doubt, Sunday's win was just what the doctor ordered and it showed this years' squad has the moxie to shake off a tough loss. This week the Hoos take on two more teams from North Carolina, and if Virginia can hold serve at home, the whispers of postseason play will certainly grow louder.
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Can't Close the Deal

This is definitely a game Virginia will wish it could have back. It was a tale of two halves, two eerily similar halves, which in this case meant UVa experienced not one, but two, damaging meltdowns. A big conference game against in-state rival Virginia Tech, and the Hoos literally let it slip away. All the pieces were there for a big win. JPJ was raucous, Jerome Meyinsse and Mike Scott both played arguably their best games of the season, Sylven Landesburg put up solid numbers, and Jeff Jones stepped up as the third scoring option. Oh yeah, Jeff Allen was ejected and Sammy Zeglinski hit a double-clutch, beyond-NBA, three pointer with under two seconds left that sent the game into overtime. A little luck, some balance on offense, and the loss of a key opposing player - that's a storyline that would normally tell of a Virginia victory. Yet last night it turned out to be about "when" and less about "who." While, for the most part, Virginia played well enough to win, they just couldn't get it done when it counted most.

A game full of momentum swings and scoring runs, UVa twice had Va Tech on the ropes, and both times the Hokies mounted furious comebacks. The Cavs led 22-10 with 5:20 left in the first half, and up until then the game almost looked like the Wake Forest game in reverse. Va Tech's offense was stagnant and UVa looked as if it would be the one to open up a big lead heading into halftime while holding the Hokies to some ridiculously low first-half scoring output. Yet, Tech answered with an 18-5 run to close the half and headed into the break with a one-point lead. Sadly, Landesburg once again got himself into foul trouble and was on the bench for the last 4:29 of the half - the Hokies scored 15 of their 18 final first-half points while he was out.

In the second half, Virginia mounted their own comeback after a controversial ejection call sent Jeff Allen to the showers early. Down three at the time, the call ignited a Virginia run that quickly put the Hoos up by 10, and they led by as much when the wheels once again fell off. This time with only 2:52 left in the contest. Va Tech went on a 13-0 run to take a three-point lead before Zeglinski hit a monumental three to send the game into overtime. In the extra period, the Hokies quickly jumped out to a five-point lead and never relinquished control en route to a 76-71 win.

So, what happened? Well, quite frankly the same things that have plagued the Hoos all season. This squad has been notorious for scoring droughts and defensive lapses - quite often at the same time. Last night, this disastrous tendency happened twice and it cost the Cavs the game. Virginia gave up 18 points in the last 5 minutes of the first half - nearly twice as many points as the Hokies scored the first 15 minutes of the half. On top of that, UVa only mustered 5 points - two of which came on a Mustapha Farrakhan reverse layup as time expired. Since once wasn't enough, the Hoos decided to pull the same stunt to close the second half, allowing 13 points in under three minutes while managing only three points of their own - a heroic three-ball from Zeglinski with seconds left in the game.

During the droughts, Landesburg was nowhere to be found. In the first-half debacle, he was literally on the bench and out of commission with foul trouble. In the late-game collapse, he went dormant offensively (forcing some bad shots), and on top of that, committed two costly turnovers. This wasn't necessarily a problem the entire game. Deep in the second half, the sophomore guard started to drive and then whipped a bounce pass into Meyinsse for a nice inside hoop. In a lot of respects the play encapsulated some of the key reasons for Virginia's success (both for the season and in this particular game). Landesburg's nice assist showed he is evolving into a more complete player willing to create for others and Meyinsse, a key role player, stepped up and found a way to contribute.

While the Cavs displayed this improved, more well-rounded play for much of the game, they reverted back to their old habits when it counted most. Down the stretch, the offense became inactive as everyone seemed to stand around waiting for Landesburg to do something. Scott, dominant in the post during a good portion of the contest, disappeared and never got the ball down low when the Hoos needed a basket most. Furthermore, the good play from key role players also went by the wayside. Jones had 12 (generally things turn out well when the Hoos get double-digits from either Jones or Farrakhan), yet he went cold when it counted most. After he hit a three to extend UVa's lead to 10, he then missed two crucial threes and a pair of free throws.

The offense wasn't the only problem. As has been the case in many of Virginia's losses, the Hoos couldn't find a way to stop the opposing team's best offensive threat. Malcolm Delaney absolutely shredded Virginia and proved almost unstoppable during both of Va Tech's massive runs. Delaney scored 10 points down the stretch and finished with a game-high 27 points. J.T. Thompson matched a season high with 17 (his first double-figure game in the last 9), and Dorenzo Hudson added 18 - many of which were daggers. Once again, too many game highs and season highs by players from the opposition.

After an 8-game winning streak, Virginia now finds itself in the midst of a two-game skid. A trip to Chapel Hill Sunday, a place that has not treated the Hoos kindly over the years, means UVa will need to find a way to put together a complete game for the full forty minutes in order to reverse their current slide.
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What Virginia Tech Has ... You Don't Want

In recent years, as Virginia basketball struggled through more than one 4-12 ACC season and only one winning ACC season since 2001, it was a common refrain amongst Hoo Nation that Virginia Basketball doesn't need to be great; it should simply strive for what for what Virginia Tech has. 

It was not necessarily a surprising plea, as it was hard to watch Virginia falter as its arch-rival maintained a surprising level of respectability.  Despite predictions that Tech would wilt in a superior basketball conference, Seth Greenberg's charges have almost always been respectable, only once really bad.  Since joining the ACC in 2004, Tech was 38-42 in ACC play entering this season, and finished no worse than 7-9 in every season but one.  During that same span, the Cavaliers were 31-49, and three times were 5-11 or worse. 

But while I applaud the job Seth Greenberg has done in Blacksburg, you don't want what he's selling.  While Tech has overall been better than Virginia since joining the ACC, the two schools are nonetheless even on the only measure that really matters -- postseason success.  Despite always being respectable, Tech has been to the NCAA Tournament only once as an ACC member.  That was in 2007, when a senior-laden team earned a No. 5 seed, defeated Illinois 54-52 in a first round game that set back offensive basketball fifty years, and then politely folded to mid-major S. Illinois, 63-48.  That same season, however, Virginia also made its only trip to the Dance since Tech's arrival in the ACC.  The Hoos were a No. 4 seed, overwhelmed a supposed upset-special Albany squad, 84-57, and bowed out to a good Tennessee team, 77-74, in a Round 2 game whose outcome likely would have been different if J.R. Reynolds was not injured in the midst of a lights-out performance.  So despite the six-game disaprity in ACC records, its the Cavaliers who have the more impressive NCAA resume during that same span, a 1-1 record that could easily have been better, not a 1-1 record that could easily have been worse. 

Would you prefer 7-9 instead of 4-12?  Of course you would.  But let's not excuse respectable for acceptable.  Respectable is nice, and avoids your program being the butt of bad Washington Post jokes, but it is not the foundation upon which basketball programs survive, at least here at Virginia.  Just ask Jeff Jones, whose teams hovered around .500 in ACC play throughout his career but was canned after a disastrous 3-13 season in 1997-98.  No, you want what Pete Gillen and Dave Leitao tried (unsuccessfully) to build, and what Tony Bennett looks well on his way to establishing -- a national program with an occasional chance at greatness.

Perhaps they'll tolerate seasons of good but not great, interchangeable 7-9 and 9-7 ACC records, and life on the NCAA bubble but more likely headed to the NIT, down in Blacksburg.  But that's never been good enough in Charlottesville, and I hope I never see the day that it is.  Thankfully, I don't think that's what Tony Bennett has in mind either. 
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No Big Surprise

As a fan you sort of saw this one coming. Running the table in the ACC was out of the question, so everyone knew a loss was coming at some point, and barely getting by UNC Wilmington gave the sense that the trip to Winston-Salem might not turn out well. On Saturday, Virginia's eight-game winning streak came to a grinding halt as Wake Forest handed the Cavs their first conference loss of the season. Raycom color analyst Mike Gminski noted UVa's "pack the line" defense and deliberate offense makes them a tough team to blow out, but the Demon Deacons certainly showed it's possible. Wake Forest built a 24-point lead in the second half, and a late Virginia rally kept the final score somewhat respectable at 69-57.

Bottom line, when you only score 15 points in a half (the lowest offensive output in the first half since 1993), it's going to be extremely difficult to beat just about anyone - especially another ACC foe. After last week's UNC Wilmington game, Coach Bennett warned that his squad's margin for error is slim, and Saturday's performance proved a perfect example. Early foul trouble for both Sylven Landesburg and Mike Scott left the Hoos with too few offensive weapons for much of the first half and the Demon Deacs took advantage. Hootie notes that losing the top inside and outside threat for such a long stretch is too much for a squad without multiple scorers.

While the offense proved virtually non-existent for a good portion of the game, the defense had its ups and downs as well. Virginia forced 24 Wake Forest turnovers yet the Hoos managed to make a marginal inside player in Chas McFarland look like a superstar as Wake Forest manhandled Virginia inside.

While most fans likely didn't expect a win at Wake Forest, the big question now is how the Hoos will respond. With senior Calvin Baker not making the trip due to a "coach's decision" it will prove interesting to see how the Cavs handle some adversity. Arch-rival Virginia Tech comes to town on Thursday and while a win over the Hokies is always good, it's also a game that serves as the perfect opportunity to get back on track. Continue reading this post...

A New Hoo

Earlier this morning red4z and his wife welcomed their son John to the world. He is their first, and at 6 lbs and 12 oz, Coach London indicated his is likely a bit undersized for the Hoos. However, it is reported that Coach Bennett is expected to visit John in order to start the recruiting process.

The Society would like to extend its congratulations to red4z and his wife on the birth of their son John! Continue reading this post...

And the beat goes on

When Bennett arrived at Virginia, the prevailing thought was his defense-oriented style of play would help the Hoos eliminate the bad losses to lesser opponents and put them in a position to compete and even beat more talented teams. After a blow-out loss to USF and close losses to Stanford, Penn State, and Auburn (all teams Virginia should have beaten), Cavalier fans were left wondering if the transition to Bennett's new system was still a work in progress or if the squad simply lacked talent - and no coach can turn a mule into a Kentucky Derby winner. A surprise 3-0 start in the ACC and a current seven-game winning streak serves as clear evidence that, as Coach Bennett warned time and time again, getting the system in place simply took a little time.

Virginia extended its ACC winning streak Saturday night with a dominant win over visiting Miami. Unlike their come-from-behind wins over N.C. State and GA Tech, the Hoos led this one wire to wire scoring the game's first 8 points and never looking back. The rout featured what was likely one of Virginia's most well-balanced offensive efforts of the season as four Cavaliers scored in double figures and Jeff Jones added 9 points all of which came from behind the arc.

If, for whatever reason, you need more proof Coach Bennett makes defensive play his number one priority, Jontel Evans' surprise start against the Hurricanes should settle it. Evans helped keep Miami guard Dwayne Collins in check and grabbed a career-high 7 rebounds. Look for him to remain in the starting line up tonight against UNC Wilmington.

Last week there was a bit of talk about Assane Sene's DNP against N.C. State and the expectation that he would see more time. There is little doubt he can and likely will play key role in helping establish a stronger inside presence for Virginia, but against Miami, Jerome Meyinsse made it clear he is currently the best option at center. Meyinsse plays with grit and a sense of determination that Sene can't quite match, and while 6 points is far from earth-shattering, it's probably about as good as it gets right now. Meyinsse seems to be gaining more and more confidence with each game, and getting 6-8 points from the center position each night would serve as a nice boost to the offense.

The weak attendance figures so far this season have been a topic of conversation, and with some of the aforementioned early-season setbacks, it appeared Cavalier fans weren't willing to witness the team's growing pains in person. After six straight wins, the crowd finally showed up (numbers-wise) Saturday night as a season-best 11, 413 turned out to catch Hoos. The athletic department also announced a new $10 ticket promotion which should help further build on the momentum generated from the current winning streak.

A 3-0 conference record marks Virginia's best start in league play in the last 15 seasons, and it seems that the players are really starting to "buy-in" to Bennett's system. The fans showed up Saturday night, so it also looks as if the fans are starting to "buy-in" to the idea that this year's squad could prove solid and worth watching. As the Hoos sit alone atop the ACC standings as the only team with an unblemished conference record, it stands to reason that teams are probably ready to "buy-in" to the idea that this squad is no longer a pushover. No longer able to surprise anyone, the new question becomes whether or not the Cavs have truly turned the corner or if this recent success was simply the result catching a few mid-to-lower tier ACC teams off guard. Either way, UVa fans should be sold on the idea that this new found sense of hope and excitement is a sure sign of progress.
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Two wins and counting...

It wasn't too long ago that many Virginia fans might have been expecting two ACC wins for the entire season.  After all, the Hoos had struggled in preseason play, with Coach Tony Bennett was preaching patience early and often and some even suggesting things wouldn't turn until he got "Bennett-Ball" players on campus.

Now that the Cavs have won six straight, including their first two ACC contests (something they haven't done since the Jeff Jones era), Hoo nation will be understandably jubilant.  Of course, let's keep in mind that Virginia's two ACC wins came against a N.C. State team that is likely to struggle all season and a young Ga. Tech team that, while talented enough to bury Duke at home, still has no idea how to consistently win on the road.  As Winston Wolf would say, "Let's not start..."

Still, two ACC wins is two ACC wins.  Its a league, unlike the one Bennett came from, where there are no free conference wins (since the Whack-10 always has one or two doormats, Oregon State filling the role in recent years, that any decent team can bank two wins against).  And hey, in the early season game of chance that is the ACC standings, Virginia stands alone at the top.

I won't pretend to know how they did it -- last night's tilt didn't even merit ESPN360 treatment -- but we can go around the Fourth Estate to get their thoughts:

• Hootie credited the win to matching the Yellow Jackets' inside presence.  In particular, Jerome Meyinsse, while he's still little more than a black hole offensively, was the most impressive, fighting off Tech's Gani Lawal all night.  For the second straight game, the Hoos fought for post position, an off-the-ball defensive key often lost under Leitao and Gillen.  Virginia simply didn't let Tech's big men catch in favorable spots, something they also did effectively against N.C. State's Tracy Smith.  Its something they'll have to continue to do, since their most effective lineup is still probably going small and their most legit big man -- Assane Sene -- still appears lost in Bennett's system.  On Tuesday, they outrebounded a much bigger Tech team 36-33 for the game.
• David Teel credited the Cavs' clutch three-point shooting.  As Teel notes, Virginia finished a pedestrian 5-for-14 from distance, but PG Sammy Zieglinski notched a pair of timely triples.  The first to cut the Tech lead to one at 55-54, and then, off a huge Landesberg offensive rebound, Zieglinski nailed another to put the game away at 72-63.
• Doug Doughty noted the Hoos' proficiency at the line.  So did the RTD.  Virginia was 23-of-26 from the charity stripe, a few days after going 19-of-20 at N.C. State.  Their opponents, meanwhile, let the Hoos hang around by failing to capitalize on those "free" points.  N.C. State was 16-for-26 from the line on Saturday, keeping the Hoos in the game when they may have had a chance to put it away.  Ga. Tech was worse, finishing a dreadful 3-for-11 from the charity stripe.  If you're perhaps undermanned, you have to find every advantage you can.  Bennett's charges have found one at the free throw line through two ACC games.  
• Resident Yellow Jacket killer Mustapha Farrakhan had another solid outing.  A year after stunning Tech with a couple of dagger threes in an OT win, Farrakhan scored 15 points off the bench in last night's triumph.  The junior guard is far from the most gifted player on the squad, but he's been its toughest player since his arrival three years ago.  And he's a perfect fit for how his new coach wants to play.

Virginia looks for ACC win No. 3 at home against Miami Saturday.  A day after mulling lowering ticket prices and sending an e-mail around (I know I got one) seeking suggestions on how to re-fill the JPJ like its 19 ... er 2006.  Yes, the lower ticket prices for nosebleeds would help -- it makes little sense that a seat in the last row cost as much as one twenty rows lower.  But if you build it - the program, not the building - they will come.  We'll see if that holds true with the Hoos 2-0 in the ACC and a Saturday night tilt against Miami coming up.    Continue reading this post...

Transforming Before Our Eyes

The win itself isn't necessarily significant.  Virginia won its ACC opener on the road last season too (an 88-84 OT win at Georgia Tech). But its the way they won 70-62 against N.C. State that, while not necessarily portending great things this season (that's still very unlikely), does give the Cavalier faithful some hope that the program is again moving in the right direction.     

• In just 13 games, Tony Bennett has gotten this group to do what Dave Leitao couldn't - play rock solid halfcourt defense.  The Cavaliers closed down driving lanes, fought gamely for post position, and outrebounded the Wolfpack despite playing with four guards most of the second half.
• Playing small (something Leitao tried at times last season) only works if everyone boxes out and all five players hit the glass.  The stats say N.C. State had eight offensive rebounds, but I didn't see many that were caused by a missed box out or a guard waiting for someone else to get the board, two things that plagued the Hoos frequently last season.  Virginia outrebounded the Pack 36-30 for the game.
• On the offensive side of the ball, the Hoos were rarely spectacular, but very efficient.  JP Sports flashed a graphic that Virginia had gone from 242nd last season to top 10 in least turnovers committed so far this season.  That looked like it might be the product of a soft preseason schedule after the Cavs committed eight in the first half and then another on the first possession of the second half.  But they only had one more the rest of the way.  Amazing what a few more possessions ending in shots can do for a team that still struggles at times offensively.
• It took him a year (two if you count his medical redshirt season) for Sammy Zieglinski to understand that he simply can't finish around the rim at his size in the ACC.  His drive and kickout for a Jeff Jones' three cut the Wolfpack lead to one at 53-52 with 4 1/2 minutes left.  Last season, Zieglinski throws something up at the rim on that play.  Saturday, he took four shots, two were threes, both of which he made.  That's how Zieglinski (generously listed at 6-0) needs to play to be successful in this league.
• Speaking of Jones, it took him two years to figure out his role at this level.  Jones has trouble creating his own shot, and still disappears for stretches.  But if he catches in space, Jones is a deadly shooter.
• Mike Scott spent a little too much time around the perimeter for my liking in the first half.  But he went inside when it mattered most in the second half.  His drive and dish to Landesberg gave Virginia a 54-53 lead it would never relinquish.  Then, his turnaround from the right block stretched the lead to 58-53.  On the defensive end, Scott also fought off Tracy Smith in the post with no possibility of help (surrounded by nothing but guards).  Simply put, Scott doesn't complete that effort last season. 
• Its easy to single out Landesberg, but people will do it anyway.  He was the best player on the court in the second half.  But he should have been.  Landesberg is capable of going both right and left, but teams have picked up that, like most players, he isn't nearly as strong going to his off hand (he's almost unstoppable going right).  But his runner going left to make it 60-55 (after N.C. State briefly broke out of an offensive funk with two points) was a dagger in the heart of the Pack.
• I close with one final observation.  Its often said that college basketball teams adopt the personality of its head coach.  In contrast to Leitao, who was often erratic and frenetic on the sideline, Bennett is the picture of cool.  The team followed his lead.  Throughout Virginia's second half run, the players (bench included) rarely overreacted - a few fist pumps here and there, but no jumping up and down.  They looked methodical - just like their coach, and just like the win.  I like it.         

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